How to look for property to rent in South Africa
Looking for property to rent, be it a flat or a house, should be fairly straight forward but sometimes this is not the case. Here are some tips and resources that should make this process easier throughout your search in South Africa.
Establish a budget & the ideal date and month to move in
Have a set number or range of what you are willing to pay monthly. Also understand what this number includes/does not include.
e.g. paying R3000 per month. is this just rent or it includes water, electricity, and wifi?
Additional utilities you may need to consider are parking, cleaning, dstv.
If the monthly amount you are willing to pay for rent does not include utilities, also budget the amount you are willing to pay for utilities. Also bare in mind necessary utilities such as water and electricity vs nice to have such as wifi & DSTV.
Start your search as early as possible e.g. 2 months before you want to move but also note that that most properties are advertised in the month of or a few weeks before the availability. The timing/month does have an impact on your search. You can only do so much if there are x properties on the market at that time so if you can secure a place in advance, aim for that.
Stick to what you can afford and don’t overextend yourself. Rent should not be more than one-third (30%) of your monthly income.
Have a list of suburbs/areas you want to stay in
The area one choose to live in will depend on certain factors such affordability, proximity to schools & work, proximity to public transport, safety etc. Whatever the reasons, narrow down your list of suburbs as early as possible to quicken your search on the various sites. In Cape Town, Southern Suburbs is common for those that attend and work at University of Cape Town. Cape Town in itself is also more expensive when it comes to accommodation than Johannesburg.
Southern Suburbs locations:
Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont - more expensive and fancier suburbs. R7000 will get you a bachelors/studio apartment if you are lucky.
Mowbray, Observatory, Rondebosch East, Woodstock, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Plumstead - less expensive suburbs These are also ideal locations for students as they are in the Jammie shuttle route. One can likely get a 1 bedroom apartment for R7000 in these areas.
Types of accommodation and living situation
What is your ideal living situation AND do you have your own furniture or you would like the place furnished?
Stay alone therefore a bachelor/1/2 bedroom apartment- furnished or unfurnished.
Family house or cluster- usually unfurnished.
Flat share in a 2/3 bedroom apartment with 1 or 2 other people- Usually furnished .
Student housing/commune house share with 2 or more people- usually furnished.
Again, knowing the type of property and living situation will help you narrow down the search. Often, flat share/commune housing will tend to be cheaper than getting a 1+ bedroom property for yourself and furnish it. If interested in commune style living, you can find ones specific to your needs and lifestyle e.g. a student commune or working professionals commune (males only, females only or mixed). These are good options to minimize expenses and grow your savings while living with a diverse group of people.
Reliable places to look for accommodation
There is an endless list of options but the following come up top in the number of properties, options (variety) and reliability.
Family, friends and colleagues - simply because they will not lead you astray. They may also know of places that fit what you are looking for that have not been publicized yet and can act as a reference for yourself or the other party.
Gumtree - biggest site for property postings especially by owners or people already living in the property. There is also a great mix of property types and various filters can be applied to narrow down the search. Please be cautious for scammers and try focus on properties that have pictures in the advertisement.
Property24 - next best after Gumtree however most of the posts are by agents. If you are looking for a very secure and above board process to your rental search, this is the way to go.
There are plenty of sources including social media - Facebook groups or Twitter however, always take extra care with posts on social media. Check the sources as much as possible and if going for viewings, do not go alone.
On Gumtree and Property24, you can filter on the following:
Property type - apartment/flat, house, townhouse.
Filter by subcategory e.g. under Property - houses and llats for rent, flat share or house share.
Location - e.g. Western Cape, Southern Suburbs (if checking on the broader suburb, you can get more specific such as Rondebosch or Wynberg).
Price range - enter lowest price and maximum price.
Number of bedrooms and number of bathrooms.
Parking - garage, street, off street, covered etc.
Furnished, smoking and pet friendly - yes or no.
As much as you are looking for a place, you can also advertise on these sites that you are looking for property to rent and the detailed description of what you desire and the people will come to you. You can work both ways so that it increases your chances of finding an ideal place and faster. Keep a log of all the places you have looked into and made contact for.
Agent vs landlord route
It tends to be easier dealing with the landlord directly.
No additional fees such as administration fee.
Less documentation required.
Ability to negotiate directly with them, gain their favor and establish a relationship.
Can be quicker as you are cutting out the middle man (agent).
One may find comfort in dealing with an agent
Knowledge of property and market.
Great starting point if you are new to the city/town.
Added security and minimize meeting fraudulent people.
Streamlined process, although it could take longer.
Assist in finding the right place for you based on your criteria.
Other sites you can use to look for property to rent:
Private Property Just Property
Real Estate agency websites (note, not an exhaustive list):
Please remain vigilant with who you are communicating with and the information your share. Remember, if something is too good to be true, it probably is! The process doesn’t end here though, this is just the start. See what else you need to do to get that perfect place!
